The Kennedy Center board has voted to shut the prestigious performing arts venue for a two-year period, a decision reached just moments after a federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s name cannot be added back to the building.
The ruling by Judge Christopher Cooper, who previously ordered the removal of the president’s name in May, stated that Congress established the center as a memorial specifically to President John F. Kennedy. Cooper emphasized that the board’s proposal to rename the campus violated both a federal statute and a previous court order.
“Simply put, Defendants cannot install memorials for President Trump or anyone or anything else at the Kennedy Center without Congress’s blessing,” Cooper wrote in his Tuesday order. He noted that lawmakers intended for only Kennedy to be memorialized at the institution bearing his name.
The board’s vote to close the center marks the third time it has approved a shutdown since February, amid ongoing legal battles over Trump’s efforts to increase presidential control over the institution. The board, chaired by Trump and including cabinet members and allies, had passed a resolution in August to add the inscription “Renovated and Restored by President Donald J. Trump” to the venue.
Trump announced on Truth Social that the closure was approved “almost unanimously” for safety reasons. While he stated the shutdown would take effect immediately, he acknowledged that renovations cannot commence until the court rules on the board’s approved name change. He vowed to appeal any negative ruling to the Supreme Court and confirmed that the Department of Justice would seek an expedited appeal.
The center’s administration warned the board on Sunday that the institution was facing financial collapse, reporting to the Washington Post that it was in a “precarious fiscal position” and unable to meet payroll or maintenance obligations within weeks. Trump has described the center as being in a “virtual state of collapse,” pointing to a recent ceiling collapse as evidence of unsafe conditions, though others dispute the need for a full closure.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat and Ohio congresswoman who is suing to keep the center open, argued that the venue could have continued phased renovations while hosting performances. She blamed Trump’s attempted renaming for driving away audiences and artists, calling his motives an act of vanity and a breach of fiduciary duty.
Congress has already authorized more than $250 million for renovations, and an additional $100 million was approved in August if raised for the project. Trump also stated he had raised $17 million to help keep the center operating during the interim period.
If the board’s request to lift the temporary injunction is granted as expected by Friday, the center could remain closed. Meanwhile, ticket sales have dropped and artists have canceled bookings following the controversy, which began when Trump replaced several trustees in February 2025 and subsequently had new lettering bearing his full name installed on the portico.
Interesting that Trump claims safety concerns but also wants to add his name. Seems like a convenient excuse for control.
Artists canceling bookings due to this controversy suggests the damage is already done, regardless of who is right.
A federal judge clearly stated only Kennedy should be memorialized there. The board is fighting a losing legal battle.
I’m confused. If Congress already approved $250 million, why can’t they do phased renovations while keeping the venue open?
This is absurd. Forcing a two-year closure over a political vanity project really harms the arts community.